Pro Bono Legal Manager

Job Description

Job DescriptionPro Bono Legal Manager
The Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice/City Bar Fund
Position Reports to: Associate Executive Director/Vance Center
FLSA Status: Exempt
Location: New York City

Established in 2004, the Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice advances global justice by engaging lawyers across borders to support civil society and an ethically active legal profession. The Vance Center is a unique collaboration of in-house and private practice lawyers catalyzing public interest innovation to advance human rights and access to justice, protect the natural environment, promote the rule of law and institutional integrity, and support public interest reporting. A non-profit program of the New York City Bar Association, we bring together leading law firms and other partners worldwide to pioneer domestic and international justice initiatives and provide pro bono legal representation to social justice NGOs. In 2024, the Vance Center represented 174 clients in 235 matters, collaborating as co-counsel with 844 lawyers from 164 law firms across 69 countries.

For more information, visit https://www.vancecenter.org/

The Position

The Pro Bono Manager, reporting to the Vance Center Associate Executive Director, will manage the placement and tracking of pro bono projects with law firms and pro bono clearinghouses, manage the Pro Bono Promotion efforts and the Keep Families Together Initiative. The Vance Center’s Keep Families Together (KFT) initiative connects foreign pro bono counsel to U.S. pro bono immigration counsel representing individuals and families seeking immigration relief in the United States.

The main responsibilities of the Pro Bono Manager include:

• Recruit and retain pro bono co-counsel for the Vance Center’s clients in the following legal programs: Environment, Human Rights & Access to Justice, Institutional Integrity, and Public Interest Reporting.
• Maintain and update all placement tools and CRM (Salesforce) and produce comprehensive pro bono data reports.
• Manage the intake form for KFT and identify international pro bono lawyers to support U.S. immigration service providers.
• Support the Associate Executive Director in managing the Pro Bono Network of the Americas and promoting pro bono activities in the developing network in Africa.
• Work with the development team to identify funding opportunities for KFT.
• Produce reports and information for the communications team.
• Plan, organize, and participate in domestic and international virtual and in-person events related to the Vance Center’s programming.
• Travel domestically and internationally to implement program activities.
• Draft materials for publication on program activities, cases, legal matters, and current events.
• Engage in Vance Center team meetings and initiatives.
• Perform specific administrative tasks related to these programs.

Qualifications

• J.D. or LL.M from U.S. law school.
• Minimum 2 years previous employment in civil society organization, law firm, pro bono legal clearinghouse, or similar organization in the U.S. or abroad. Previous experience with pro bono work is highly desirable.
• Understanding of international legal and political conditions and current issues, particularly in Latin America.
• Written and oral fluency in English and Spanish is necessary.
• Strong external relationship-building with persuasive communication skills.
• Ability to manage diplomatically and skillfully complex, cross-border institutional relationships, sometimes with competing priorities and viewpoints.
• Keen understanding of culturally appropriate differences in communication styles, customs, and norms.
• Ability to gather, synthesize, analyze, and present qualitative and quantitative data in various formats and genres, with excellent writing skills.
• Careful attention to detail.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to work quickly and well under pressure, manage multiple tasks, and meet tight deadlines.
• Strong digital technology knowledge and skills.
• Authorization to work in the United States.

Candidates for this position must be available for in-person work at our Midtown Manhattan office on a hybrid schedule. The schedule requires 3 days of scheduled in-office work per week, with the balance of time being work-from-home. The hybrid schedule is subject to review and revision based on departmental needs.

Compensation/Benefits
Starting salary will be $75,000- $80,000 (based on experience).

We provide a competitive benefits package including generous paid time off (vacation, personal, sick time, holidays including closing between Christmas and New Year’s day this year, day off each year for volunteer work, extra time off in the summer if start date is no later than June), choice of medical plans, dental, vision, 401K, life insurance, commuter benefits program, Employee Assistance Program, short-term/long-term disability insurance, employee discounts, and more!

To apply: It is suggested that qualified candidates submit a cover letter to explain why you are interested in the position, when applying, along with your resume.

Note: A minimum of three professional references will be required, later on in the process, for candidates being given serious consideration.

Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States. We are not able to sponsor visas for this position.

The Vance Center is a proud equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from candidates belonging to communities historically underrepresented in the legal profession. We actively seek a diverse applicant pool and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. It is our policy to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, creed, age, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, gender (including gender identity), sexual orientation, disability, arrest or conviction record, pregnancy, credit history, salary history, caregiver status, marital status, partnership status, or status as a victim of domestic violence, stalking and sex offenses, religion, sex, genetic information, military status, unemployment status or any other characteristic as protected by law. With regard to the Americans with Disabilities Act and other related laws, we will endeavor to make reasonable accommodations for persons due to their religious beliefs; disability; pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition; or because the individual was a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking.

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